A study on patient safety incidents and the second victim phenomenon among healthcare providers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia (24 November 2023)

Summary

A second victim is a healthcare worker who is traumatised by an unexpected adverse patient case, therapeutic mistake, or patient-associated injury that has not been anticipated. Often, the second victim experiences direct guilt for the harm caused to the patients. Healthcare organisations are often unaware of the emotional toll that adverse events can have on healthcare providers (HCPs) who can be harmed by the same incidents that harm their patients. This study aims to examine the second victim phenomenon among healthcare providers at Al-Ahsa hospitals, its prevalence, symptoms, associated factors, and support strategies.